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R. DUNBAR. Mode of Operating Elevators.

No. 226,047 Patented Mar. 30, 1880.

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NFETERS, FHOTO-LITNOGRAPNER, WASmNGTO-N. D 04 ROBERT DUNBAB, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

MODE OF OPERATING ELEVATORS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 226,047, dated March 30, 1880.

Application filed February 25, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be .it known that I, ROBERT DUNBAR, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city-of But't'alo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Mode of Operating Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

Elevators for elevating grain or other similar materials have heretofore been operated by means of a large amount of shafting, belting, pulleysfand gearing, the whole being so combined and connected together as to be operated by a single engine, which arrangement involves an expense of many thousands of dollars for belts, shaftin g, pulleys, and other gearing.

The object-of my invention is to simplify the construction and greatly reduce the cost of the same, so that one or more or all of the elevators may each be run at the same time without the necessity of using belts, extra shafting and pulleys, or expensive connecting or disconnecting devices, such as are usually required for such heavy machinery when it is desired to run one or more separately from the rest; and it consists of a series of elevators, each provided with a small engine suitably geared thereto, in combination with a steamboiler having steam-pipes leading therefrom, so as to connect with each of the engines, and the necessary valves, whereby one or more or all may be operated, as will be more clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan showing a suitable arrangement of the boiler, steam-pipes, and engines for operating the several elevators.

A represents an ordinary elevator-building, having the usual bins for grain, weighingrooms, and other devices appertaining to an elevator, excepting the belts, shafting, and pulleys heretofore mentioned.

A, A and A are the elevators or elevatorlegs, of which there may be more or less than the number shown. They are of the ordinary construction, and are furnished with the wellknown cups or buckets, arranged and connected thereto in the usual way. Each elevator is provided with an engine, B B B and is connected to the elevators by a spur-wheel and pinion, O O.

D represents the steam-boiler, which may be constructed in any well-known w. y. It is provided with a main steam-pipe, D, having suitable branches for reaching and connecting with the several engines, as at E, E, and F.

In Fig. 2, F represents a valve for letting on or shutting off steam from the main pipe, and G, G, and H are suitable valves for admitting steam to or shutting it OK from the several engines.

Either the ordinary single-cylinder engines or three-cylinder or rotary engines may be used. A three-cylinder or other similar engine would be better, for the reason that it has no dead-center, and is always ready to start from any point, and the engines may be so arranged that either may be started or stopped from a distance by suitably arrangin g the valves in the steam-pipes for that pur- I,

pose.

In Fig. 1 the .letters I, J, K, L, and M represent the well-known arrangement of pulleys and a belt, by which an elevator is raised or lowered, the frame N and the usual guideways 0 keeping the head or upper part in position.

In the usual way of operating elevators the engine is in some part of the building at a distance from the elevator, so that it cannot be readily stopped or started in case of accident or for other reasons, Whereas by my improvements the engine is close to the elevator, and can be instantly stopped or started at any time without interfering with the operation of any other parts of the machinery. It is also intended to run the conveyors, the cleaners, and other parts of the machinery requiring it separately in the same way.

I claim as my invention- 1. An elevator, A, provided with an engine, B, connected thereto by gearing G O, as specified, in cornbination with the boiler D, having steam-pipes D and E and valves F G, for the purposes described.

2. A series of elevators, each provided with an engine geared thereto, substantially as specified, in combination with a steam-boiler,

D, having a steam-pipe, D, and branches and valves, as set forth, for connecting with and operating the several engines and elevators either separately or together, as described.

I ROBERT DD'NBAR.

Witnesses JAMES SANGSTER, HUGH SANGSTER. 

